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Video: Jeff Greenfield a little skeptical of MSNBC journalism

An amusing moment, brought to us by Truth Revolt, reflecting on the difference between journalism and advocacy. Media critic Jeff Greenfield guested on MSNBC’s Now with Alex Wagner to discuss the implications of the ObamaCare failure. When the panel (which included David Corn of Mother Jones, Joy-Ann Reid of The Grio, and Katrina vanden Heuvel from The Nation) claimed to be journalists more than advocates, Greenfield looked a little … skeptical.

GREENFIELD: No, no, no because I don’t represent myself, I represent myself as a humble country journalist, not an advocate.

WAGNER: I think many people at this table would consider themselves journalists.

GREENFIELD: Who are also advocates.

WAGNER: No we’re not.

GREENFIELD: Progressives and liberals.

WAGNER: We can get into that discussion later.

For the record, Corn certainly qualifies as both, and any advocate can also engage in journalism, depending on what they’re doing and how they approach it. I know I’ve done both, and defended it on numerous occasions. In that sense, Greenfield’s response could be seen as a bit snobbish, although he also was prepared to accept the idea that they could be both, too. It’s Wagner’s insistence that they aren’t advocates at all that put that smirk on Greenfield’s face.

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In that sense, Greenfield’s response could be seen as a bit snobbish, although he also was prepared to accept the idea that they could be both, too.

You’re an advocate, and the MSNBC panel are advocates. What Greenfield should have said was that an advocate is not an objective journalist because they have an agenda other than to observe and report.